Parthenon Software Group

Software Developer (Portland, OR)

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:15:03 -0800

We are looking for a full-time software developer who can work on a variety of programming projects. Currently the projects are about 60% Python/Django and 35% PHP, but we are also doing Android, iPhone, and OSX and .NET desktop-based projects.

About us: We develop custom software and automation solutions for small businesses, generally using open-source languages and libraries. We specialize in starting work with a business we know nothing about, learning its requirements quickly, and developing software from scratch (no customization of existing open-source apps) that fits the requirements at a reasonable cost. We are not a marketing or "web solutions" company -- we don't promise to make anyone's business take off with a nice-looking website. Instead, our business is in making a client's workflow faster, saner, and more intuitive by automating or simplifying it with software.

This job emphasizes rapid development of enterprise-quality software without much of the overhead of enterprise development. If (for example) you're a proponent of YAML or JSON versus XML, or would examine the use of alternative data storage methods to SQL when designing an application's storage backend, you might thrive in this environment. If you enjoy coming up with unorthodox solutions to computing problems, and if you're more interested in working with a small team of highly skilled developers on a range of projects than working for a large organization on one long project, this might be a good fit for you.

Candidates are expected to work in a variety of programming languages and environments and pick up requisite knowledge quickly with as little outside help as possible -- while experience definitely counts, this job requires someone who is a fast and adaptable learner and problem-solver. This is a local position for an on-site employee, so no outsourcing contractors please.

The ideal candidate would have the following:

Previous experience in designing and coding web applications, especially using open-source languages.
Basic Unix/Linux experience. This includes being able to schedule cronjobs, check logs, do file permission changes, etc from a console. This isn't a systems administration position, but one needs to know enough to comfortably get around the environment one is working in.
Strong understanding of object-oriented programming. The ideal candidate has written code in an object-oriented language such as Python, Java, C#, or Ruby.
Some experience in MVC web or mobile frameworks.
Preferably should have at least 3 years of experience in a language other than the following: Flash, Javascript, PHP, COBOL, or any flavor of Basic including Visual Basic.

Optional experience that is a plus:

Knowledge of Perl or Python, enough to solve an automation or text processing problem on a Unix server.
Enough understanding of Javascript to use a JS framework such as JQuery
Has used an IDE such as Eclipse, Netbeans, or Visual Studio. Or vim, with the appropriate plugins.
Understanding of regular expressions, preferably Perl-style regular expressions.
Enough understanding of SQL to be able to tune/debug low-performing queries.

If you would like to apply, please submit a resume: jobs@parthenonsoftware.com

New Relic launches Python Public Beta

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 15:57:37 -0700

New Relic has launched a Python Public Beta for their Application Monitoring service. Their service already offered a wide range of languages including Java, .NET, PHP and Ruby. Now you can get the same Real-Time visibility for your Django application.

New Relic is a third party service that works with your application wherever it is hosted. It breaks down an applications performance on your server, identifying problem areas in your code, or with other resources like your database. All this data is visualized to make it easy to understand, and offers a variety of metrics that you can drill-down into for detailed reports.

With over 12,000 accounts including users like GitHub, Groupon, Intuit and Sears; they have a proven history. Watch their video for a first-hand look at how it all works. They are offering a 14 day Free Trial when you sign up.

Mobile Applications

Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:54:57 -0700

Mobile Applications have emerged as a powerful way for businesses to interact with their customers. Consumer Apps allow people to use Facebook or Twitter from anywhere they can get cell service. Mobile Games like Angry Birds have redefined entire business models for entertainment and have even reshaped the way people use their bank. In a lot of ways Mobile Apps are causing the same huge shift that happened when webpages became commonplace. Even laptops are slowly being replaced by tablets that boast longer battery life in a slimmer, lighter package.

Parthenon Software has entered the Mobile Application field based on customer demand, and we hunted for Open Source tools that could bring our development strengths to this new market. Our search led us to PhoneGap. Developed by Nitobi, PhoneGap translates a common application cross platform to multiple phone brands. We can support phones running Android, the iPhone, Blackberry, and tablets in one project. This allows us to focus on features instead of compatibility issues giving our clients a cost-effective development cycle.

A common smartphone or tablet device is a feature-rich device that has endless applications for the businesses as well as consumers. While the consumer marketplace is being explored in new ways everyday, the business angle remains largely untapped. Components like the built-in camera can be used as barcode scanners, or to quickly communicate with pictures instead of text. We are learning new ways to use mobile devices everyday. Contact us and let us share what we have learned. To see what we have discovered first hand, see our Internal CRM in action.